SAN ANTONIO -- Cold and emotionless, Kawhi Leonard grabbed his Defensive Player of the Year hardware before tipoff of the team's 100-73 annihilation of the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday in Game 3 of the Western Conference playoffs.

In that same fashion, Leonard broke the visiting team's spirit, simultaneously showing the world he's more than just a defensive specialist by scoring a career-high 32 points as San Antonio's offensive catalyst in taking a 2-1 series lead.

"He's not a one-trick pony kind of guy," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "He's something else."

The Clippers learned that the hard way Friday night at the AT&T Center.

San Antonio held an eight-point advantage coming into the second half, only to grow it into a 21-point lead by the end of the third quarter on the strength of a brilliant offensive display by Leonard. Leonard busted up Los Angeles for 11 of San Antonio's first 13 points to start the second half in a dizzying span of 3:46 that would quickly leave Rivers pulling his starters upon the realization this game had become unwinnable for the Clippers.

"Kawhi jumped on us. I thought Kawhi Leonard at the start of the third quarter changed the game," Rivers said. "I thought he was absolutely sensational. I think he was trying to tell all the voters he's a player, not just a defensive player. At halftime, I was looking. We missed a lot of shots in the first half that we should have made and we were only down eight [points]. Then in the second half, when they got off to that quick start, I thought in that moment is when your spirit was broken for the game. That's why I subbed pretty early and got our guys out."

Leonard outscored every combination of three Clippers conceivable, hitting on 13-of-18 shots from the field and nailing 3-of-5 3-point attempts. Leonard started the game hitting each of his first four shots for 10 points with a 25-foot jumper coming at the end of a 47-second span in which he also contributed a steal and a rebound.

Leonard also hit all three of his free throws, finishing the game with three steals.

"It's definitely fun when you're able to translate your practice into the game," Leonard said. "It's fun, and you know that your hard work paid off. I'm just happy that I get the opportunity to do the things on the court that I do in practice."

Most of that work, according to Popovich, has taken place with Spurs assistants Chip Engelland and Chad Forcier, who have worked diligently to transform Leonard from more of a big during his college days at San Diego State to a force on the perimeter.

Spurs forward Tim Duncan handed Leonard his Defensive Player of the Year trophy before the game, and after acknowledged his teammate "put on a show tonight."

"I don't know if he came out here tonight to say he's more than just a defender," said Duncan, who scored four points and dished four assists in addition to pulling down six rebounds. "He was great on both ends. You know what? He did it the right way. He stayed within our offense. He got some shots going early on. Then, I think he just got comfortable and kind of got on a roll. Then, you [saw] his level of difficulty going up, shooting over double teams, fading away, making plays. From there, it was just off to the races. He continues to impress me every time he is out there. In a situation like this, it is obviously great for us, but it is impressive to watch."

Point guard Tony Parker certainly thought so, and laughed at the thought of Popovich attempting to sub out Leonard with the Spurs up by 30.

"I was kind of surprised when he was at 29 [points], Pop wanted to sub him," Parker said, laughing. "But he got a quick shot before he got out. I was happy for him. He made that and-1. I was so happy for him."

Leonard, meanwhile, didn't seem so thrilled about the offensive clinic he put on the Clippers on a night in which he received an award for defensive player of the year.

"I'm just living in the moment, trying to win every game," Leonard said. "That's all I'm focused on."

Surely, that's fine by the Spurs.